Many thanks to James and Laura for giving us free access to their home, fridge and drinks cupboard. We have used all of them liberally and hope to return the favour when they are home in April. Your generosity has got our Asian adventure off to a great start.

We have really enjoyed Singapore. It is even bigger and better than our last visit in 1999. Land has been reclaimed from the sea in the bay area and new, fabulous, sea front facilities have been constructed. See our pictures of the Flyer, the Sands Hotel and the Gardens on the Bay to get an idea of recent developments there.

On Sentosa Island there have also been amazing developments. Luxury houses and apartments, marinas and canals, beaches and golf courses have all been completed. Sentosa attracts visitors from all over Asia with it's new casino, hotel complex and attractions such as the Aquarium, Waterworld, Universal Studios theme park and so on. The infrastructure and organisational skills are breathtaking - everything works as it should. We joined a hundred yard long taxi queue last night coming back from the aquarium. We were on our way in under 10 minutes.

The food is a delight. We have eaten Chinese in Chinatown and curries in Little India. James treated us to world class food at a restuarant near the casino. We had carpachio fish on delicately flavoured ice andthe tenderest lamb and beef from Australia and New Zealand.

All of this has been achieved without compromising the cultural identities of the people of Singapore. China Town is just as vibrant and colourful as ever while Little India is exactly like India but with tar on the roads and proper road markings. The people are outgoing, friendly and appear to be happy. They are very proud of their cultures and city state.

And what is not to like? The climate is warm and sunny almost all the time, the built environment is world class and there are jobs for all. It is very much a city in a garden.

This evening we meet or fellow travellers for the next leg of our Asian adventure and tomorrow we travel up the west coast of Malaysia by public transport to the old pirate town of Melaka.

Temperature 27C, Mossie bites 0, Ailments 0, Accidents 1 (Walked briskly into glass door - Robin. No lasting damage to either.)